Wendy Robinson dies at 53 taught ballet at Peabody

Wendy Robinson, who taught classical ballet in the Preparatory Division of the Peabody Institute, died Saturday of cancer at her home in Mount Washington.

She was 53.

Ms. Robinson joined the Peabody faculty in 1985.

For nine years before that she had directed the Baltimore Ballet School, originally the Maryland Ballet School.

She used the Royal Academy of Dancing training method and supervised courses at Peabody for ballet teachers who wanted to use the method.

Robert Pierce, Peabody director, said yesterday, "Few teachers in our experience have given more of their life, love and ability to their students."

Born in London, she trained at the Sadlers Wells School and danced with the Sadlers Wells opera and ballet companies in London before becoming a choreographer and dancer for the R.A.I. Television Co. in Milan, Italy.

She was an extra in many movies, and once played a knight in full armor in El Cid.

Before coming to Baltimore, she taught in Lima, Peru, and in Los Angeles.

In Baltimore, she choreographed operas for the Baltimore Opera Company, including "Eugene Onegin," "Macbeth," "La Traviata," "The Tales of Hoffman," "Faust," "Lucia de Lammermore" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

For the Baltimore Ballet Company she did "A History of Dance," "Carnival of Animals," "Peter and the Wolf," "The Comedians," "Tubby the Tuba" and other children's stories.

She also choreographed productions of musicals including, "Camelot," "Brigadoon," and "My Fair Lady."

Ms. Robinson is survived by a daughter, Susan Maciel of Orlando, Fla.

A memorial scholarship fund is being established at the Peabody Preparatory Division and a memorial service is being planned.